With 96 Color Choices In The Box, Jamie Chose 8 And Let His Inner Child Write On The Walls.

Opening the doors to the tattered remains of his friend's shop, truck owner Jamie Theel found this '87 Nissan Hardbody truck in multiple pieces. The bed was in one corner. The rearend was gone. The wheels and tires were lost, and the frame was sitting cut on jack stands. It took three trailer loads to get it all to Jamie's house. After the requisite cussing session, he was able to maintain his composure long enough to decide on a new plan of attack.

Jamie started the rebuilding process by going to the junkyard and procuring the frame from under another '87 Hardbody. The frame was then sandblasted, primered, and painted Prowler Yellow as were both upper and lower control arms. For added visual appeal, chrome was added. Jamie didn't break the bank, but it was close. Chrome adorns the shackles, U-bolts, leaf springs, leaf spring hangers, and lowering blocks. For suspension duties, an AIM Cop Stopper front 'bag kit is in place and is fed nitrogen from 1/2-inch valves. Drop springs, blocks, and air shocks ride under the bed. 20x8-1/2-inch Detata Siren wheels are wrapped in Nitto rubber sized 235/35ZR20 at all corners.

The engine compartment is the epitome of "no stone unturned." Before the four-banger was strapped to the newly painted frame, the block was painted Metallic Green with Orange and Yellow highlights. Anything metal that could be hooked, bolted, or screwed to the motor was removed and sent to the dipper for a heavy dose of the triple-plated shiny stuff. All the requisite canisters and parts in the engine bay were also shot with PPG coating, as was the brake booster. Green, blue, purple, blue, orange, yellow, and chrome emit enough eye candy to make focusing on any one part difficult for long periods.

Where we find the bulk of the customization process is on the outside of this bad body. It makes sense, after all, since the exterior is where it all comes together visually. Jamie had his truck attacked with a welder at Kaotic Customs in Las Vegas, and the team there went nuts shaving and molding. A period-matching Nissan 4x4 hood and front fenders were set into place, but not before the hood squirter holes were done away with and the corner lights on the fenders were welded closed. Underneath the FBI billet front grille is a two-piece Toyota front bumper, which has been molded into a single piece. The plastic B-pillar vents were removed in favor of, what else, being shaved smooth with the welder. Their fate matched that of the drip rails, door handles, the tailgate, the tailgate handle, keyholes, and the cowl vent. Most trucks don't see even that many mods, but Kaotic wasn't done. Cadillac taillights replace the stockers, and a tribal license plate box adds some additional dimension to the rear. The welder wasn't put down until the back cab wall had been modified in a walk-through style and both doors were suicide hinged. A little extra flair stems from the body kit on all sides. From there, Jamie had the full Crayola hue arranged. Once again, PPG yellow was offset with green, red, blue, orange, purple, black, and white.

On the inside, Jamie handled the interior accoutrements. Nissan Pathfinder bucket seats and a Suzuki Samurai rear bench seat were covered in brown vinyl and sandstone tweed before being placed over the sandstone wool carpet. Both door panels were matched up and then set off with billet armrests and window cranks. To match the shaving on the exterior, the interior was fiberglassed to the hilt as well. Starting with the smoothed dash, the A/C and heater vents and controls are gone, as are the cigarette lighter and ashtray holes. All the vents and even the radio were skillfully smoothed over by Jamie. Matching hues were dug out of the crayon box and litter the interior with vibrancy. Finishing touches included the chrome fire extinguisher, brake, clutch, and gas pedals.

All told, Jamie nearly had a disaster on his hands but persevered to create a show-stopping masterpiece. Apparently he just needed some motivation to achieve his goal. We should all be so lucky. With a little help from family and his friends in the Desired Vision truck club, Jamie has put together a colorful Crayola display with more mods than most people could even notice. With 96 colors in a box, what Crayola vision can you come up with?